Getting back in the saddle

Bikeless · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

Right, it's been 9 years since I owned a bike, 95 blade, now entering my mid 40's and having a midlife, do I get back in the saddle and if so, on what?
Back history, always had sports bikes, ride like a knob on hot sunny afternoons.

recman · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Karma :

Bikeless · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Bikeless · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

KTM 990 SMT

It's a stupid thing

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

This is fucking lazy posting IMO.
OP what's the budget and are you looking for a new or used bike?

Your post comes across as your not decided on wanting to get back into riding bikes or not? If not sure then you need to make that call. You like me have hardly ridden much in the last decade so you need to decide if this bothers you or not? Don't come back into it with the idea of a bike just because your bored and are looking for something to pass your spare time or give you a buzz. That's a shit reason to buy another bike and it's quite likely you might buy something flash ride it for a few months and either have a scare or crash or just lose interest because you want to do anything and everything in life to give you a buzz.

Are you interested in building or restoring a bike? If you buy something you always wanted in a state and have the time and commitment to restore it, you might just get the bug for working on bikes and doing restorations. There's plenty of 40's-70's yr olds that never really ride, but get a fix out of building bikes instead.

If you just want to come back on the road cheaply for the summer evenings, then I'd start out cheap and cheerful and see if you get anything out of it or if your enthusiasm re-ignites?

You can pick up a tidy older big bike like an RF900, Thunderace, Firestorm, ZX9R etc for £1000-1500. If it's just to dip your toe in it doesn't matter what it is or if it's a bit of a tatty old bus.

Don't fall for the old 'If I can just find the right exciting bike I'll be well up for it and full mojo will return' The rider and your attitude and commitment will create the enthusiasm to return to bike riding again, but the bike won't!

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

CB1100?
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

suburban myth · Spanner Monkey Joined: 13 Feb 2013 Karma :

Duke 390.

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

Even better - a KTM Duke 690 Wink

Not that fast but a seriously fun tool on twisty roads. If you're only in your 40's you've probably not realised yet that you're not a Rossi clone (it took me well into my fifties)! I don't want to come over as all old age and sensible because I'm not, but I gave up on modern sportsbikes because I got frustrated by never being able to use the performance on the road. The 690 on the other hand spends it's life on the rev limiter and on the edge of it's big fat, sticky tyres. It's given a few "sports bike riders" something to think about in the short time I've owned it.

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

Even better - a KTM Duke 690 Wink

Not that fast but a seriously fun tool on twisty roads. If you're only in your 40's you've probably not realised yet that you're not a Rossi clone (it took me well into my fifties)! I don't want to come over as all old age and sensible because I'm not, but I gave up on modern sportsbikes because I got frustrated by never being able to use the performance on the road. The 690 on the other hand spends it's life on the rev limiter and on the edge of it's big fat, sticky tyres. It's given a few "sports bike riders" something to think about in the short time I've owned it.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I was thinking Z1000S. Fast, not stupid powerful, comfy, fully faired. Ticks all the boxes that I can see.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Hang on, we haven't had a report on his missus. We might want him out of the picture.

Duke is probably a good shout though. Hooligan enough for most geezers trying to recapture their long lost youth ( Shifty

) but without needing to crank it up to Ludicrous Speed.

If KTM made them in human heights it'd be on my list.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Once scrutineering is complete, Roger might be calling for full Fireblade SP with the jumpy gearbox, or a wSb1000RR HP4. Laughing

Kentol750 · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2016 Karma :

Any of the ktm 690 variants...husky 701, duke or enduro r. Mt09, street triples, gsxs750 or thou, cb1000r, new z900 or s1000r, will give similar performance and fun to your old blade. However, the nakedness can keep you sensible longer. I'd forgotten how easy it was to go fast after 7 years away from an 06 blade, riding uprights and tall tourers (adventure bikes is a shite term for lardy street biased beaky things(imho)). Got a z1000sx and immediately went back to the mental 2nd/3rd gear roundabout exit hitting the speed limit before being upright fool about to get banned for silly speeds that modern sportsbikes can turn you into. So back to finding a tall tourer.
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Some bikes.